Unload Tee

ABSTRACT

An unload tee has a tee body with a front side and a rear side. The tee body includes an extendable link pivotally connected to the front side of the tee body wherein the extendable link is slidable from a first position wherein the extendable link is shortened to a second position wherein the extendable link is lengthened. An arm is pivotally connected at an opposite end of the extendable link and a door is pivotally connected to an end of the arm unconnected to the shaft. The door is configured to cover an opening of the tee body, wherein an end of the door unconnected to the arm is pivotally connected proximate the rear side of the tee body.

STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to techniques for unloadtees used in transporting materials.

Unload tees are used in a variety of industries to transport and deliverbulk materials. Unload tees may be installed at the bottom oftransportation vehicles (or other difficult to reach places) andfurther, conventional unload tees may be difficult to operate at certainangles or in certain situations. This may result in haphazard securingof the tee when delivery is complete, resulting in damage to theassembly and/or vehicle. Thus, there is a need for an improved unloadtee that is secure, safe and allows for ease of operation.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An unload tee has a tee body with a front side and a rear side. The teeassembly includes an extendable link pivotally connected at one end tothe tee body and at the other end to the handle, which also acts as partof the linkage. This extendable link allows for the compact storage ofthe linkage while in the ‘closed’ position and also allows the linkageto have the necessary span to allow the door to be completely out of thepath of the falling material when the tee is in the ‘open’ position.

The door is located on the very bottom of the tee body and is situatedto cover an opening that extends from the very top through to thebottom, allowing for the passage of material through the tee. The dooris pivotally connected to the ‘rear’ of the tee body and at the ‘front’side it is pivotally connected to the handle, which as previouslystated, is also connected to one end of the extendable link.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The exemplary embodiments may be better understood, and numerousobjects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. These drawings are used toillustrate only exemplary embodiments, and are not to be consideredlimiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equallyeffective exemplary embodiments. The figures are not necessarily toscale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shownexaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity andconciseness.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anunload tee in a fully open position.

FIG. 1A depicts a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of atransportation vehicle or storage vessel, valve and unload tee with theunload tee in a fully open position delivering a volume of material.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anunload tee in a closed position.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an unload teein a closed position.

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an unload teein a partially open position following the position of FIG. 3 whenopening.

FIG. 5 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an unload teein another partially open position following the position of FIG. 4 whenopening.

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an unload teein a fully open position following the position of FIG. 5 when opening.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

The description that follows includes exemplary apparatus, methods,techniques, and instruction sequences that embody techniques of theinventive subject matter. However, it is understood that the describedexemplary embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anunload tee 10 in a fully open position. FIG. 1A depicts a schematic viewof an exemplary embodiment of the unload tee 10 in the fully openposition delivering a volume of material 70 below a transportationvehicle 60 and valve 50. The unload tee 10 has a tee body 12 whichdefines a bore 14 that travels through the tee body 12. As known to onehaving ordinary skill in the art, at one end of the bore 14 is a flange16 configured for attaching or mounting to a controllable valve 50 (suchas, for example, a butterfly valve) sandwiched between the flange 16 anda transportation vehicle/storage vessel 60 (or other pipe or conduitsystem to which the unload tee 10 is connected). At the opposite end ofthe bore 14 from flange 16 (and forming part of the bore 14) is anopening 13, which is covered by the tee door 24 when the unload tee 10is in a closed position (see FIG. 2). Further, the tee body 12 may havecoupling ends 18 at an axis perpendicular to the bore 14. The couplingends 18 as known to one having ordinary skill in the art may run alongthe vehicle/storage vessel 60 and/or may connect the unload tee 10 forestablishing flow along the vehicle 60 to pipes, hoses, tees or otherfittings as part of the materials transport or pipe system. The unloadtee 10 may further be characterized by having a front or operating side30 and a back or rear side 32. The operating or front side 30 may be theface, plane or side of the unload tee 10 that the operator of thetransport or pipe system substantially interacts with to manipulate orchange the position of the unload tee 10 and/or the control valve.

The unload tee 10 further includes a plurality of beams 11 which extendoutwards from the tee body 12 and are coupled to a door assembly 20. Thebeams 11 may further be characterized into front beams 11 a on the frontside 30 and rear beams 11 b on the rear side 32. Both front and rearbeams 11 a, 11 b may both be located towards the lower end or underside34 of the body 12 (or towards the opening 13 for the door 24).Additionally, the unload tee 10 may optionally include one or moreprojection(s) or keeper(s) 17, one of which may define a fastener port19 for use with securing and/or latching the door assembly 20 into theclosed position. Other means for safely securing the door assembly 20 tothe tee body 12 in the closed position may be implemented as known toone having ordinary skill in the art.

The door assembly 20 of the unload tee 10 in an exemplary embodimentincludes the door 24, at least one arm 22 (two shown), a handle or lever26, and at least one extendable links 40 (two shown). In one embodiment,assuming two extendable links 40, the two extendable links 40 are madeof two barrels 21, and two shafts 23. Each barrel 21 is pivotally and/orrotatably coupled to one of the front beams 11 a of the tee body 12. Thebarrels 21 should be configured to have a range of rotation such thatthe barrels 21 may be able to rotate, invert or reverse beneath theunderside 34 of the tee body 12. At the opposite end of each of thebarrels 21, a shaft 23 is inserted into the barrel 21 and allowed toslidably move into and out of the barrel 21. In one exemplary embodimentthe extendable link 40 (or barrel 21 and shaft 23) are telescopingparts. In another exemplary embodiment the extendable link 40 or barrel21 may be a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder with the shaft 23, forexample, functioning as a piston, or may be spring loaded. Theextendable link may function to urge, bias or maintain the door 24 inthe closed position (FIG. 3) and/or the open position (FIG. 6). Theopposite end of each shaft 23 is inserted into an open bracket 25defined on one end of an arm 22. The connection between each shaft 23and each bracket 25 should allow the shaft 23 to pivot, swivel or rotatewithin the bracket 25 about the connection point.

One of the arms 22 may be connected to, and may be unitary or integralwith, a handle 26. As depicted in FIG. 1, the handle 26 is connected (ina unitary manner and preferably aligned) to the arm 22 a. The handle 26should be configured to be accessible by the operator of the system fromthe operating or front side 30. In the closed position, the handle 26may extend above the flange 16 for ease of access by the operator of thetransportation system. The second arm 22 b in FIG. 1 defines a means forfastening or a fastener port 29, for fastening to the tee body 12. Inalternative exemplary embodiments, the handle 26 may be connected to,contiguous with or unitary with the arm 22 b, and the fastener port 29may be defined instead on the arm 22 a. Although one handle 26 iscurrently preferred, in certain exemplary embodiments greater than onehandle 26 may be implemented (e.g., such as connected to arm 22 b).

The ends of the arms 22 not connected with the shaft 23 are pivotallycoupled with the door 24. Further, when the unload tee 10 is in thefully open position (see FIGS. 1, 1A and 6) the arms 22 may define avoid 27 (defined between the first arm 22 a and the second arm 22 b)such that the arms 22 (or other parts of the door assembly 20) allow ordo not inhibit the flow or delivery of a volume of materials 70 from theopening 13.

When in the unload tee 10 is in the closed position, as is depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3, a fastener 28 may be used to secure the door assembly 20and the tee body 12. The fastener 28, as depicted, is a clevis pin 28 ainserted through fastener port 19 on the projection 17 of the body 12and fastener port 29 on the arm 22 b, but other safe means of fasteningmay be implemented as is known in the art. The fastener 28 should beeasily removed and reusable to allow for ease and efficiency ofoperation. In an exemplary embodiment, the fastener 28 and fastenerports 19, 29 may be located on the operating or front side 30 of theunload tee 10.

FIGS. 3-6 depict a side view of the unload tee 10 as the unload tee 10moves between a fully closed position (in FIG. 3), to partially openpositions (in FIGS. 4-5), and then subsequently to a fully open position(in FIG. 6). The progressive opening of the unload tee 10 from FIGS. 3to 4, from FIGS. 4 to 5, and from FIGS. 5 to 6 (or also from FIGS. 3 to6) may all occur with one motion or action from the operator (normally ahuman) exerting force onto the handle 26. The closing of the unload tee10, may also likewise occur with a singular motion or action from theoperator onto the handle 26. Preferably, the foregoing one openingaction and singular closing action are exclusive of any additional(external) motive force or action for opening and/or closing of the door24. As depicted in the closed tee 10 position seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, thehandle 26 is aligned with the bore 14 of the tee body 12 and raisedabove the flange 16 in the closed position. The extendable link 40 is ina first position wherein the extendable link 40 is shortened as shown inFIG. 2, FIG. 3 and/or FIG. 4. Further, the fastener 28 may be engagedwith the fastener ports 19 and 29 to secure and retain the door assembly20 in the desired closed position. When the operator needs to deliverthe desired bulk materials, goods or product through the unload tee 10to the desired location (or otherwise needs to manipulate unload tee 10into an open position), the fastener 28, if implemented, is firstremoved or disengaged from the fastener ports 19 and 29.

Then the operator manipulates or pulls the handle 26 to move outwardsand away from its upright position adjacent to the tee body 12 to apartially open position of the unload tee 10 as depicted in FIG. 4. Whenthe handle 26 is thus manipulated, the barrels 21 pivot about the frontbeams 11 a to extend outwards and away from the tee body 12. Theextendable link 40 may remain in the first position (where theextendable link 40 remains shortened) in FIG. 4. The handle 26 transfersthe movement from the operator to the arms 22 as well, which pivot abouttheir connection to the door 24 to point towards the front side 30, andmay cause the door 24 to move slightly ajar and reveal the opening 13 asthe door pivots about the rear beam(s) 11 b.

To further open the unload tee 10, the handle 26 is further manipulatedor pushed downwards into another partially open position as seen in FIG.5 following the position of FIG. 4 when opening. The barrels 21 shown atthis position have pivoted to point downwards and the shaft 23 mayadjust in or out of the barrels 21 to compensate for any necessarydistance/tension as the arms 22 move. Thus, the extendable link 40 mayslidably lengthen in the second position (as depicted in FIGS. 1,1A,and/or 5-6) relative to the first position of the extendable link 40(which is depicted in FIGS. 2,3 and/or 4, wherein the extendable link 40is shortened). The door 24 also pivots open about the rear beams 11 b,further revealing opening 13.

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the unload tee10 in a fully open position. To move the unload tee 10 to the fully openposition in FIG. 6 from the partially open position in FIG. 5, thehandle 26 is further manipulated to push the door 24 further open andaway from the opening 13. In order to transition from the partially openposition in FIG. 5 to the fully open position in FIG. 6, the barrels 21pivot or reverse about the front beams 11 a to point backwards, orreverse, towards the door 24 upon transferred motion from the handle 26.Each of the arms 22 also pivot about the bracket connection 25 with theshafts 23 such that the handle 26 is angled upwards towards the operatorfor single sided operation from the front side 30 when the operatordesires to close the unload tee 10. In the fully open position of theunload tee 10 in FIGS. 1 and 6, the door 24 and the arms 22 (and allother parts of the door assembly 20) do not block or inhibit a directmaterials flow from the opening 13. Thus the unload tee 10 may bemanipulated into an open position with one action/exertion from theoperator onto the handle 26, as the motion from the operator onto handle26 may be transferred to the various components and enables moving orpivoting points, and/or joints of the unload tee 10. At this point, theoperator may decide to open the control valve connected to the flange16, or manipulate a valve at another point in the pipe system, to allowa flow of materials through the opening 13 to the desired location. Whensatisfied with the delivery of materials, the operator may shut off thevalve and reverse the steps of opening the unload tee 10 to fully closethe tee 10. Preferably, the length of the door 24 is less than theclearance between the underside/lower end of tee body 34 and the surfaceof the ground.

To close the unload tee 10 from the fully open position as shown in FIG.6, the handle 26 is pulled upward and forward or away from the tee body12. The barrels 21 and shafts 23 pivot away and downwards from the body12 as depicted FIG. 5. Continued pulling of the handle 26 towards theoperator or the front/operating side 30 will extend the barrels 21 topoint outward from the body 12 and towards the front side of operation30, as seen in FIG. 4. The shafts 23 may progressively contract, insert,or slide inwards or shorten into the barrels 21 when the unload tee 10is moved more towards a fully closed position. Finally, the handle 26may be lifted above the flange 16, the motion of which causes thebarrels 21 to flip or fold upward and over the front beams 11 a andcloses the tee door 24 against the opening 13. Thus the unload tee 10may be manipulated into a closed position with one motion or action fromthe operator onto the handle 26, as the motion from the operator ontohandle 26 may be transferred to the various components and enablesmoving or pivoting points, and/or joints of the unload tee 10. Theunload tee 10 may now be secured into the fully closed position byengaging the optional fastener 28 with fastener ports 19, 29 on the body12 and arms 29 respectively.

All pivots/pivotables shown and/or described herein in an exemplaryembodiment may be made from a hinge with linkage (as shown) or in anyother manner known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

While the exemplary embodiments are described with reference to variousimplementations and exploitations, it will be understood that theseexemplary embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of theinventive subject matter is not limited to them. Many variations,modifications, additions and improvements are possible. For example,while the implementations and techniques used herein are discussedprimarily in relation to the bulk handling transportation industries,alternative exemplary embodiments of the unload tee 10 may be applied toalternate industries, such as, by way of example only, petrochemical,irrigation, food and beverage industries and the like.

Plural instances may be provided for components, operations orstructures described herein as a single instance. In general, structuresand functionality presented as separate components in the exemplaryconfigurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component.Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single componentmay be implemented as separate components. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope ofthe inventive subject matter.

1. An unload tee assembly apparatus, comprising: a handle connected to adoor of the unload tee assembly, wherein the handle is configured foropening the door with one action.
 2. The unload tee assembly apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the handle is further configured forclosing the door with one action.
 3. The unload tee assembly apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a tee body with a front sideand a rear side, the tee body comprising: a front beam located at thebottom of the front side of the tee body; a rear beam located at thebottom of the rear side of the tee body; a barrel coupled with the frontbeam, wherein the barrel is configured for pivoting about the frontbeam; a shaft configured for moving into and out of the barrel at oneend of the shaft; an arm coupled with the shaft at an opposite end ofthe shaft, wherein the shaft is configured for pivoting about the arm;wherein the handle is connected to the arm; and wherein the door iscoupled to the arm at an end of the arm not coupled to the shaft andwherein the door is also coupled to the rear beam, further wherein thedoor is configured to pivot about the arm, and further wherein the dooris engaged with an opening of the tee body when the unload tee is in aclosed position.
 4. An unload tee apparatus having a tee body with afront side and a rear side, comprising: an extendable link pivotallyconnected to the front side of the tee body; wherein the extendable linkis slidable from a first position wherein the extendable link isshortened to a second position wherein the extendable link is lengthenedrelative to the first position; an arm pivotally connected at anopposite end of the extendable link; and a door pivotally connected toan end of the arm unconnected to the extendable link and configured tocover an opening of the tee body, wherein an end of the door unconnectedto the arm is pivotally connected proximate the rear side of the teebody.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a handleunitary with the arm.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, furthercomprising a first fastener port defined on the tee body; a second arm,wherein the second arm defines a second fastener port; and a clevis pinconfigured for engaging the first and second fastener ports when theunload tee is in a closed position.
 7. The apparatus according to claim6, wherein the extendable link comprises a barrel and a shaft, whereinthe shaft is slidable into and out of the barrel to and from the firstposition and the second position.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7,wherein the barrels are pivotally connected to a plurality of frontbeams at the front side of the tee body; and wherein the end of the doorunconnected to each arm is pivotally connected to a rear beam at therear side of the tee body.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the barrels are further configured to pivot below the frontbeams.
 10. A method of unloading a volume of materials through an unloadtee, comprising the steps of: manipulating a handle of the unload teewith one action; and opening a door of the unload tee according the stepof manipulating the handle.
 11. The method according to claim 10,further comprising the step of exerting the one action via an operator.12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the stepclosing the door of the unload tee according another step ofmanipulating the handle.
 13. The method according to claim 10, furthercomprising the steps of: pivoting an arm connected to an extendable linkrelative to the extendable link via said step of manipulating thehandle; pivoting the extendable link connected to the unload teerelative to the unload tee; pivoting the door connected to the armrelative to the arm; and wherein said step of opening the door furthercomprises pivoting the door connected to the unload tee relative to theunload tee.
 14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising thestep of extending the extendable link in response to said steps ofpivoting the arm and pivoting the door.
 15. The method according toclaim 10, further comprising the steps of: wherein said step ofmanipulating the handle further comprises the handle connected to anarm, wherein the arm is pivotally connected to an extendable link, andwherein the arm is pivotally connected to the door at one end of thearm; transferring motion from the handle to the arm and the extendablelink, wherein the extendable link is capable of shortening andlengthening and is pivotally connected to a front beam of the unloadtee; pivoting the extendable link about the front beam; lengthening theextendable link; pivoting the arm about the extendable link for openingthe door.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step ofmanipulating the handle enables the steps of: pivoting the extendablelink about the front beam; lengthening the extendable link; pivoting thearm about the extendable link; and opening the door of the unload tee.17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:opening a controllable valve connected to the unload tee; and allowingthe volume of materials to flow past the arm to a desired destinationfor the volume of materials.
 18. The method according to claim 15,further comprising the step of securing a second arm to the tee bodywhen the unload tee is in a closed position.
 19. The method according toclaim 18, further comprising the steps of pivoting a barrel about thefront beam and inverting the barrel beneath the front beam.